News Release Archive

PREMIER--CANADA AND NOVA SCOTIA SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
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Nova Scotia Premier John Savage and Pierre Pettigrew, federal
minister of human resources development, today signed the
Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on a Framework for Strategic
Partnerships.
"This agreement is tailored to meet the unique needs of Nova
Scotians," said Premier Savage. "We have recognized that all of
us -- citizens, communities and governments -- have a
responsibility in getting people back to work. By working in
partnership with our federal colleagues, we'll be able to
capitalize on the strengths of governments and citizens. This
will result in improved services for unemployed Nova Scotians."
"This made-in-Nova Scotia strategic partnership recognizes that
dynamic and sustainable communities are built by working
together, and by working smarter," said Mr. Pettigrew. "By
fostering a new labor market partnership that responds to the
needs of Nova Scotians, we are taking another step forward in our
efforts to renew the federation. Through these flexible
arrangements, we can help unemployed Nova Scotians find and keep
jobs."
"This agreement will allow us to concentrate government dollars
on solid community projects that will help Nova Scotians find
jobs," said John MacEachern, provincial minister of community
services. "We have had great results with recent
federal-provincial partnerships by working closely with
communities and addressing the needs of people looking for work.
This made-in-Nova Scotia approach is a continuation of Nova
Scotia's long history of co-operative, community-based employment
strategies."
This strategic partnership establishes a framework for the
governments of Canada and Nova Scotia to foster opportunities to
benefit unemployed Nova Scotians. The two governments will
co-ordinate their efforts to minimize overlap and duplication and
to improve their respective labor market programs and services
for the benefit of Nova Scotians.
Under this agreement, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia
will work with residents and communities across Nova Scotia to
implement programs and services that will reflect regional
economic and labor market priorities. The federal-provincial
agreement is based on the groundwork already established through
successful co-operative partnerships such as the Entrepreneurial
Centre in North Sydney, where the two governments work with
educational institutions, local and regional businesses, and
volunteers.
Today's agreement acts on commitments made by the government of
Canada to withdraw from labor market training and to seek new
partnerships with the provinces and territories in labor market
development. The government of Canada made these commitments in
the May 1996 Labour Market Development Proposal to the provinces
and territories. As part of this proposal, each province and
territory has the opportunity to negotiate a unique agreement on
labor market development that reflects its specific priorities
and interests.
Over the initial three years of the agreement, the government of
Canada will spend $209.6 million in Nova Scotia on active
employment benefits and measures funded through the Employment
Insurance Account. These funds will support active employment
measures and benefits and will foster partnerships with
employers, community-based organizations and other stakeholders.
Nova Scotians will have access to a wide variety of programs and
services funded through the EI Account to help them achieve
self-reliance and get back into the workforce. These programs and
services could include: targeted wage subsidies; targeted
earnings supplements; self-employment assistance; job creation
partnership; labor market partnerships, and employment assistance
services.
Key to this new agreement is results. One critical measurement
will be the number of people who return to work. This agreement's
made-in-Nova Scotia approach means that citizens and communities
will work with government to find the best paths toward
self-reliance.
Nova Scotians receiving municipal and/or provincial social
assistance may be eligible for several programs and services to
help them achieve their full potential and to find and keep jobs.
These include: Career Planning for Single Parents; Vocational
Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons; Assessment Services; Work
Activity Projects; Literacy Training, and a new program called
Bridging to Success.
In areas where feasible, the governments of Canada and Nova
Scotia will establish joint service delivery centres. In these
locations, Nova Scotians will have access to a full range of
federal and provincial labor market programs and services. This
agreement will not result in the transfer of any federal programs
or administrative resources to Nova Scotia.
The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are also working
together on the design and delivery of a loans and grants program
to support individuals while they develop the necessary labor
market skills.
To meet the objectives of this agreement, both governments are
currently reviewing proposals and setting up specific action
plans for future projects. Individual project announcements will
be made once details are finalized.
With the Canada-Nova Scotia partnership agreement, the government
of Canada has now been successful in negotiating new partnerships
with the majority of provinces. The federal government is
continuing to negotiate labor market development agreements with
other provinces and territories. Each has the opportunity to
create a unique arrangement that reflects its own local and
regional priorities and needs as the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement
for a Framework on Strategic Partnerships does.
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Contact: Anna Kapiniari
Office of Minister Pierre Pettigrew
819-953-2353
Kathy Moggridge
Human Resources Development Canada
902-426-8306
Cathy Shaw
Nova Scotia Community Services
902-424-4326
NOTE TO EDITORS: Two backgrounders are available by calling
1-800-670-4357 or 902-424-4492:
1. The Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on a Framework for Strategic
Partnerships and Employment Insurance
2. Highlights of the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on a Framework
for Strategic Partnerships
Pour version francaise, appeler 1-800-670-4357 ou 902-424-4492.
trp Apr. 24, 1997 - 11:20 a.m.